Wednesday, 21 Feb 2018

Written Answers Nos. 161-180

Health Services Staff

Questions (161)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

161. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not been facilitated to return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8959/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (162)

Dara Calleary

Question:

162. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that assessment of needs policy has changed in County Mayo; if children must now have a pre-diagnosis before being accepted for assessment of needs appointments; if the policy has changed; if this policy has changed nationwide; if it is restricted to County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8960/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. 

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (163)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8977/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Appointments Administration

Questions (164)

Willie Penrose

Question:

164. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to contact the relevant authorities with a view to expediting an urgent appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9019/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Rural Development Programme

Questions (165)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

165. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in the implementation of key rural development initiatives as contained in the rural development programme 2014 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8970/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020 represents a substantial investment, by both the EU and the National Exchequer, in the agri-food sector and in Irish farmers. The Programme is co-funded by the EU’s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to a sum of €2.19 billion over the programme lifespan. This EU funding is supplemented by exchequer funding bringing the total allocation to €4 billion, a substantial vote of confidence in Irish farming.

The programme covers a suite of measures both ambitious and broad, and supports all farming sectors. These measures reflect the issues, challenges and opportunities which Irish agriculture faces, and were put in place after lengthy consultation and analysis. The Programme aims to enhance competitiveness, to encourage more sustainable farming practices and to deliver real and quantifiable results for rural communities and the rural economy generally. Achieving these results is very much dependant on farmers engaging with and participating in the various schemes and initiatives on offer, and I am pleased to say that, as with previous RDP programmes in Ireland, farmers are enthusiastically signing up to schemes under this RDP.  

In fact, Ireland leads other Member States in terms of our implementation of the Rural Development Programme and currently has the second highest rate of drawn-down of EU funds among all Member States. The average EU financial rate for draw down of funds up to the end of December 2017 was 25.9%, whereas Ireland’s execution rate was 44.3%. This progress is testament to the successful roll-out, uptake and implementation of schemes under the Programme to date.

I fully anticipate that based on current up-take and projections, the entire budget allocation of some €4 billion for the Rural Development Programme will be spent and that the entire €2.19 billion of EU co-funding will be drawn down.  It is expected that the majority of funds will be spent by the end of 2020, although there will be some carry-over. Under EU regulations governing the Rural Development Programme, funds for multi-annual commitments entered into by the end of 2020 may be claimed up to the end of 2023.  RDP spending is also subject  to the annual estimates process and budgetary rules, but this should not affect the overall spend and any EAFRD funds unspent in a year are carried forward to subsequent years.

In terms of RDP participation levels, I am pleased to say that there has been  excellent uptake to date.  At this stage of the programme, some multi-annual schemes such as GLAS, BDGP and the Organic Farming Schemes are fully subscribed. Other schemes such as ANC are applied for on an annual basis, and others such as TAMS will continue to recruit participants in tranches. 

Reaching the targets set out within the RDP is central to meeting the objectives of the Programme and to producing the desired results and outcomes.  It is therefore important that progression toward these targets is kept under review. To this end, and in line with EU regulatory requirements, my Department carries out an annual review of implementation by reporting on indicators collected on all schemes and measures. This Annual Implementation Report, and a Citizens Summary on the results of this assessment is, once approved by the Commission,  published on the Department’s website. We will continue to review the implementation of the programme to ensure that we  are on target to meet all identified objectives and that all EU funding is fully drawn down.

Single Payment Scheme Applications

Questions (166)

James Browne

Question:

166. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for a single farm payment by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8833/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

A 2017 Basic Payment Application was received from the person named on 27 April 2017.

Following processing, an error was identified relating to land that formed part of another applicant's forestry contract.  An official of my Department has made direct contact with the person named and outlined the position.  My Department will pay the person named on the remaining land pending a resolution of the forestry issue.

Payment will issue to the nominated bank account of the person named in the coming days.

GLAS Payments

Questions (167, 168)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

167. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive their balancing GLAS payment for 2016; his views on whether it is fair that due to information technology incompetence the person must wait 16 months for their payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8844/18]

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

168. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive their balancing GLAS payment for 2017; his views on whether it is fair that due to information technology incompetence the person must wait 16 months for their payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8845/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together.

The person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received full payments in respect of 2015 and the 2016 scheme advance payment.

The Department is aware of an issue with this case that resulted in the subsequent payments not being made. A solution has been identified and the 2016 balance payment is expected to issue shortly. GLAS payments continue to issue on a weekly basis.

Fishery Harbour Centres

Questions (169)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

169. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contractual commitments contained within the €7.98 million funding recently announced for Killybegs harbour centre; if only €2.9 million of the funding is newly acquired in view of the fact that the €5.08 million allocated for contractual commitments represents previous funding commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8902/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. 

To provide for the necessary safety, maintenance and ongoing development of the six Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl, my Department administers the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Development Programme. In line with normal budgetary processes, funds are made available on an annual basis for these purposes.

In the period 2010 to 2017, €12.7 million has been spent on maintenance and development works at Killybegs. In 2018 I have allocated a further €7.98 million in funding for capital works in Killybegs.

The size and nature of some of the projects now being undertaken in Killybegs, taking on board operational considerations, has necessitated a phasing of the projects in addition to funding which straddles more than one year.

The circa €14m Smooth Point project at Killybegs currently underway will deliver a much needed 120 metres of additional berthing space. The project commenced with phase 1 in 2017 when €1.5m was spent, this was in addition to €0.4 million spent on project preparations in 2016. In 2018 I have allocated €4.87 million to the Smooth Point Project, €3.47m for the completion of Phase 1 and €1.4m for the commencement of Phase 2 of the upgrade. It is expected that the project will be completed in late 2019.

Similarly with the Landing Pier upgrade project, work commenced on the structural (pier fendering and berthing dolphin ) phase of this project in 2017 when €2m was spent, following on from €0.5m which was spent in 2016 on project preparation. I have allocated a further €1.26 million for the completion of these works in 2018. In addition I have provided €1 million for electrical upgrade element of the works which commences this year and is expected to be completed in 2019.

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Questions (170)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

170. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8987/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Officials from the Inheritance Enquiry Unit of my Department wrote to the Personal Representatives of the second person named in August 2012 requesting the usual testamentary documents and also outlining procedures for the transfer of schemes in which the person named was involved.   

A further letter was issued in May 2014 advising that payments would issue to the Representatives of the second named person above when the required  documents are received.  

The Department continues to await further instruction on the matter.

Broadband Service Provision

Questions (171)

Brendan Ryan

Question:

171. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to ensure that a high speed fibre optic broadband connection is provided to a location (details supplied) in view of the fact that the lack of such a connection is putting jobs at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8858/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. Today, almost 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. Since this Government came into office almost 400,000 additional premises have access to high speed broadband. This will increase to nearly 8 out of 10 premises by the end of this year and by 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access to a high speed broadband connection. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention. Premises in the area referred to by the Deputy are in a BLUE area on my Department’s High Speed Broadband Map, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie.  They are therefore in an area where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services.

While I have no statutory authority to intervene in the day to day operations of commercial operators, my Department is collating information in relation to individual cases where commercial plans to provide access to high speed broadband to premises within a BLUE area do not materialise.  I would encourage businesses in the referred area to provide my Department [e-mail] with details of the attempts made by the businesses to access a high speed broadband connection, with a view to my Department engaging further on this issue.

 

Illegal Dumping

Questions (172, 173, 174)

Brian Stanley

Question:

172. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of prosecutions and convictions, respectively, for illegal dumping and on-the-spot fines in Dublin city since 2012, by local area district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8917/18]

Brian Stanley

Question:

173. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of prosecutions and convictions, respectively, for illegal dumping since 2012, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8918/18]

Brian Stanley

Question:

174. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent in Dublin city on the removal of illegal waste in each year since 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8919/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 to 174, inclusive, together.

Enforcement actions against illegal waste activity are a matter for the Local Authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department does not compile statistics in relation to prosecutions taken or fines imposed. Information is available through the Local Government Management Agency’s series of service indicators annual reports available from the publications section of the LGMA’s website http://www.lgma.ie/en/publication-category/service-indicator-reports-2004-2010 and the enforcement section of the EPA’s website http://www.epa.ie/enforcement/prosecute/. The cost of illegal dumping is not collated by my Department as it includes local authority enforcement, disposal and legal costs and also involves costs for other State agencies such as An Garda Síochána.

Illegal dumping is first and foremost a matter of individual responsibility and compliance with the law.  While enforcement action in this area is a matter in the first instance for local authorities, the Department encourages a multi-facetted approach to tackling the problem, incorporating enforcement, public awareness and education and, as such, the Department provides funding to support the activities of the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs) of approximately €1 million per annum and of the network of local authority waste enforcement officers of approximately €7.4 million per annum.  Dublin City Council receives an annual grant of €982,000 in this regard.

In addition, the Department has developed an Anti-Dumping Initiative to work in partnership with local authorities and community organisations in identifying high risk or problem areas, developing appropriate enforcement responses and carrying out clean-up operations. The 2017 Anti-Dumping Initiative saw funding of €1.26 million provided by the Department which supported 229 projects across the country. This year, I am increasing the allocation to €2 million to build on the momentum that has now been created and to provide for an increased focus on identifying and prosecuting illegal dumpers. 

Metropolitan Area Networks Programme

Questions (175)

Willie Penrose

Question:

175. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 604 and 607 of 23 May 2017 and the report of the taskforce implementation group concerning taskforce action number 19, if the pricing review of the metropolitan area network or MAN is complete; his plans to publish the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9010/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

In the context of Action 19 of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, which was to explore whether take up of the MANs could be improved, a review of the MANs was commissioned by the Department and carried out by independent consultants. The review examined the operation of the MANs by the Management Services Entity, enet, which manages and operates the MANs on behalf of the State, and considered the access arrangements and pricing of the MANs to ensure that the MANs are being operated and managed by the Management Services Entity in accordance with the terms of the MSE Concession Agreements.  

The pricing Review of the MANs is currently undergoing a verification process with the consultants who carried out the review and will be completed as soon as possible.  It is my intention to publish the report thereafter.

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Questions (176)

Willie Penrose

Question:

176. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has been notified of force majeure circumstance by a company (details supplied) in relation to its NBP commitment agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9011/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

In April 2017, I signed a Commitment Agreement with eir in relation to its plans to provide High speed broadband to 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. eir has committed to completing the rollout by the end of this year. Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available at http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup/. A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie. Storm Ophelia, which hit our shores on 16th October 2017, caused extensive damage to infrastructure across the country. I understand from eir that necessary resources were redirected to affected areas in order to restore service. I informed the House of this when responding to Questions on 14 November last.

In accordance with the obligations of the Commitment Agreement, officials from my Department meet with eir on a monthly basis to review the company’s performance on their ongoing rural deployment project.

Officials from my Department were informed by eir that its Q4 targets would be impacted by the effects of Storm Ophelia. In line with the force majeure terms of the Commitment Agreement and, with the Department's approval, eir’s Q4 2017 target for listed eircodes passed under their rural deployment was adjusted from approximately 30,000 to approximately 20,000.

According to figures now verified by my Department eir reached this revised target with an overall total of 121,000 listed eircodes passed as of December 2017. I further understand that eir, in the process of including extra premises in their rollout where the situation on the ground required or allowed for, have in fact covered a total of 131,000 premises passed as of December 2017.

As mentioned previously my Department is in regular contact with eir in relation to their ongoing deployment and the Commitment Agreement and will continue this engagement with the aim of ensuring the requirements of the Commitment Agreement are met.

Telecommunications Services Provision

Questions (177)

Willie Penrose

Question:

177. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 1008 of 13 July 2017, the top five blackspots by county for mobile coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9013/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Under Action 17 of the December 2016 Report of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development have worked to achieve a greater consensus around site selection for telecoms infrastructure and therefore improve mobile phone coverage.  

In 2017, both Departments worked with a pilot group of local authorities to identify the issues associated with mapping local blackspots. The pilot exercise has since been completed, with all local authorities now being asked to map local blackspots and identify infrastructure that could potentially be used to provide additional coverage on an economic basis. This exercise is ongoing, and has been included in the 2018 Taskforce Work Programme. It is planned to have dedicated GIS resources in place to support this.

Under Action 40 of the 2016 Report, a review was conducted to identify recommendations to address blackspots. This work is continuing in 2018 under a focus group to inform future policy development and initiatives, in providing guidance with respect to specific categories of locations where high quality mobile phone coverage should be made available as a priority taking account of customer expectations.  

Metropolitan Area Networks Programme

Questions (178)

Willie Penrose

Question:

178. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the date on which changes to clawback arrangements of MANS enhancements were adopted; if the new arrangements were applied retrospectively from the date of adoption; if there is or likely to be a net cost to the State from this change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9014/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

New clawback arrangements in respect of enhancements to the MANs under the MSE I Concession Agreement were agreed with the concessionaire on 15 March 2017.  The clawback period was reduced from the final ten years to the final five years of the Concession Agreement, which is due to expire in March 2030. 

The purpose of the clawback arrangements is to incentivise ongoing enhancement of the MANs infrastructure by the concessionaire in the final years of the MSE Agreement.  The payments under the clawback provisions will fall due at the expiry of the MSE I Agreement in 2030, and there should be a net benefit to the State from the reduction of the clawback period from ten to five years. 

Broadband Service Provision

Questions (179)

Willie Penrose

Question:

179. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of premises passed under the Eircom commitment contract in Q2, Q3 and Q4 of 2017 that were deployed by means of eVDSL, LR-VDSL or were otherwise not fibre-to-the-premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9015/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The number of eVDSL premises passed by eir under the terms of the April 2017 Commitment Agreement for the three Quarters referenced by the Deputy is set out below:

Quarter 2 2017:  0 premises

Quarter 3 2017:  2,918 premises

Quarter 4 2017:  392 premises

Premises passed will now be able to avail of eVDSL enabled services which include speeds from 30Mbps up to and including 100Mbps.  Information on eir's planned rural deployment is available at http://fibrerollout.ie/eircode-lookup.  Quarterly updates on eir's rural deployment are published on this website. Of the 300K planned rural deployment, my Department has verified that eir has passed a total of 121,000 premises as at Quarter 4 2017.

A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie.

Broadband Service Provision

Questions (180)

Willie Penrose

Question:

180. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 587 of 23 May 2017, his plans to issue a policy direction to a body (details supplied) in relation to the coverage conditions, as opposed to the allocation method, or of spectrum licences in the 700MHz band; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9016/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

A Decision has been adopted at EU level in order to co-ordinate the release the 694-790MHz (700MHz) spectrum band in all Member States by 30 June 2020. This proposal will allow mobile broadband services to use this part of the spectrum band.

The EU Commission's Digital Single Market Strategy highlights the importance of this band for ensuring the provision of broadband services in rural areas. The band is particularly attractive for wireless broadband services, allowing higher speeds and greater coverage over long distances. 

In Ireland, the 700MHz band is currently used by digital terrestrial television services (DTT) and to meet the timeline of June 2020 for clearance of broadcasting services from this band, my Department and ComReg have been working to ensure the necessary measures are taken to facilitate a clearance of the spectrum. This work is being carried out with the cooperation of RTÉ (as owner and operator of the two DTT public service multiplexes) and its subsidiary, 2rn, as the owner and operator of the national broadcasting transmission network.

Ireland does not foresee any difficulties which may prevent the signing of cross-border agreements with relevant countries. ComReg and my department have fully engaged in the necessary technical and policy cross-border coordination work with the UK authorities and, in that regard, the date of 4 September 2019 has been identified as the start date for the coordinated migration of terrestrial broadcasting services from this spectrum band in both jurisdictions. 

This date represents the beginning of a period of simulcast, which is designed to ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that those households that rely solely on the Saorview DTT service can undertake the necessary preparations without undue interruption to their reception of that service.  It is considered that the period of simulcast will end by March 2020 and, at that time, all terrestrial broadcast transmissions in the 700MHz band will be required to cease.

The management of radio spectrum is a matter for ComReg, which is independent in the exercise of its functions, including the future allocation of the 700MHz band and any terms and conditions attached to any licenses issued. Having regard to the independence of ComReg in the matter, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time. I have no reason to believe that any process undertaken by ComReg will not result in the fair allocation of any future spectrum assignment and I expect the outcomes of any such process to provide a level of certainty and transparency for all stakeholders.